Horse-detacher



(No Model.)

J. S. NAPIER. HORSE DBTAGHER.

No. 600,207. Patented Mar. 8,1898.

lhviTnn STATES PATENT Finch.

JOHN S. NAPIER, OF VERNON, TEXAS.

HORSE -DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,207, dated March 8, 1898. Application filed m 26,1897. Serial No. 645,972. (No model.)

To coZZ whont it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN S. NAPIER, of Vernon, in the county of VVilbarger and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Detachers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in horse-detachers; and it consists of certain novel features of construction which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the present invention is to so construct and arrange the mechanism that a child can readily detach a horse from a whiffletree when occasion may require.

The invention consists of a releasing device operated by the driver of a vehicle for operating through the medium of straps or chains spring-actuated bolts, which engage with the free ends of pivoted levers, the opposite ends of said levers being provided with hooks for securing trace or tug straps thereto.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference indicate like parts in all the views, Figure l is a perspective view of carriage-thills with my improved device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan or top View of my improved device, partly broken away and in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation in detail of the holdback device.

The numerals 1 1 indicate the thills, and 2 the tie-bar for holding them in place. The thills are secured in the ordinary manner to the axle by any suitable device.

The whiflietree is indicated by 3, which is composed of several parts, similar to a rectangular box, the front plate supporting a top and bottom plate 4 4, which are held in position by a rear plate 5, in combination with binding-straps around said plate 5. The opposite ends of said whiffletree are provided with a mouth or opening formed of the free ends of said plates 4 4 for receiving levers 6, which are pivoted at 7 7 to said plates. The rear sides of said levers 6 6 are provided with hooks 8 8, said hooks being attached to said levers within their fulcrum or pivoted connections 7 7, thus forming levers of the third class. Hooks 8 8 are for securing the traces which pass around the pivoted ends of said levers and between the extending ends of plates 4 4, thus forming a guard to hold said traces in position when passing around said ends. This rounded portion of the whiiiletree offers so much friction to the traces that the hooks are not liable to become broken from any undue strain that may be caused by a sudden jerking of the traces. The inner ends of these levers 6 6 are grooved vertically at 9 to receive tongues 10, formed on the adjacent ends of slides or bolts 11, moving within the hollow body of the whifiietree. The inner ends of these slides are provided with stems or shanks 12,which are surrounded by spiral springs 13. The rear ends of said springs abut against a block or box 14, provided midway between its ends in its rear face with a slot 15, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The stems or shanks 12 are provided on their inner ends with eyes 16 for securing straps or chains 17, which pass through the box or block 14 to slot 15, and from thence through plate 5, where they are connected to straps 18 for manipulation by the driver of a vehicle.

The whiffletree 3 is secured to the tie-bar 2 of the thills or shafts by means of a pivotal pin 20 and a retaining clip or yoke 21.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form as herein set forth, as the device can be integral as regards the several parts for building my whiftletree, the internal mechanism being substantially as herein set forth.

' Having described my invention, that which I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. A whiffletree provided with pivoted 1evers near its opposite ends, hooks secured to the rear side of said levers between their pivotal points and their inner ends, said levers having rounded ends for frictional c011- tact of traces or tugs when secured to said hooks, in combination with spring-actuating slides, and straps for releasing said slides substantially as described.

2. A whiffletree provided with pivoted levers near its opposite ends, and flanges of said whiifietree extending over the rounded ends of said levers, hooks secured to the rear side of said levers between their pivotal points and their inner ends for securing traces or tugs which make contact with said rounded ends and extend forward; and the means for holding said levers in a closed position snbof said whiffletree extending over the rounded ends of said levers, said levers being pivotally secured near the opposite ends of said whiffletree, hooks secured to the rear side of said levers between their pivotal points and their inner ends for the purpose as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. NAPIER.

Witnesses:

W. D. BERRY, SHEM E. HATCHE'IT. 

